Consumer Psychology Guide

Direct Mail Specialist - The Career

Throughout the years, one of the most reliable and effective marketing strategies has been direct mail marketing. Direct mail marketing focuses on sending packets of information, catalogs, or special offers through the mail to businesses and consumers.

Direct mail marketing requires strategy however. No company wants to spend thousands of dollars on print material only to have it thrown in the trash immediately by a consumer. Instead, companies develop and manage mailing lists with the help of direct mail specialists. Read on to discover how these professionals use market data to drive mail campaigns.

What do they do?

Direct mail specialists manage large mailing lists for companies and implement mailing campaigns upon the release of a new product or the announcement of a new offer. These individuals are in charge of the development and execution of all print advertising at a company, meaning they work with a large team of sales professionals, designers, and market researchers.

Location and Opportunity

According to Indeed.com, there are several locations with high demand for direct mail specialists. Some of these include:

Washington, DC

New York, NY

Chicago, IL

Houston, TX

Seattle, WA

Throughout a company's existence, marketing managers build up relationships and contacts with other businesses and consumers. As more relationships are added or severed, the direct mail specialist manages the contacts, updating mailing lists and noting the kinds of products they look for.

Then the direct mail specialist enacts advertising campaigns with graphic designers, sending out mail advertisements. Other professionals they work with include:

Qualifications

Direct mail specialists must have strong analytical skills in order to keep their mailing lists up to date and relevant. They must be able to measure the effectiveness of a mailing campaign, ensuring that consumers and businesses positively respond to their efforts.

Most direct mail specialists earn at least bachelor's degrees in marketing before entering the field. While previous experience may be the greatest indicator of whether or not someone will get the job, some businesses look to those with master's in marketing degrees to lead direct mail campaigns.

Become a Direct Mail Specialist

Most direct mail specialists earn between $40,000 and $60,000 in salary per year, though this fluctuates depending on experience and location. Earning an advanced degree gives businesses more incentive to increase this pay as well.